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T. W. BYRNE & R. C. LEHANE.

PANEL BOARD FITTING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1914.

1,1 95,778. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS WILLIAM BYRNE AND ROBERT CHRISTOPHER LEI-IANE, OF BOSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PANEL-BOARD FITTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1914. Serial No. 817,622.

To all whom it may concern:

We it known that we, THOMAS W. BYRNE and ROBERT CHRISTOPHER LEHANE, both citizens of the United States of America, residing in the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Panel-Board Fittings, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to panel board fittings, and the object of our present invention is to provide for electrical units adapted to be combined in a panel board installation an individual cover for each unit, the cover being of such construction that upon the assembly of the fittings upon the panel board the covers form a practically unbroken protection coextensive with the installation and serving to shield the units against mechanical injury and accidental electrical contact.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a panel board installation in which several fused switch fittings are employed, some of which are provided with our improved cover; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through one of the fittings showing our cover in position thereon; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of two fittings showing coversthereon; Fig. 4 is a perspective of the cover alone; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.1, but showing a fitting of different type with a modified cover thereon; Fig. 6

is a longitudinal section therethrough; Fig.

7 is an end elevation of two fittings with covers in position; Fig. 8 is a perspective of the cover plate alone; and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing a cover of this modified con-.

struction adapted for the switched fitting shown in Figs. 1 to'4.

The panel board unit shown in Figs. 1 to 4 for which the present cover plate is designed, is of common type comprising a base 10 of porcelain or other insulating material, centrally grooved at 11 on its upper face for the reception of the mains 12, and provided at each end with terminals 13 for the branch wires 14. Electrical connection between the terminals 13and the mains 12 is established through the switch 15 and the fuse plugs 16 in well understood manner.

\ Substantially coextensive with the base and resting upon its upper face, we provide a cover plate 17 of any Suitable material,

but here Shown of a mechanically strong insulating material such as composition or condensite. Apertures 18 are formed therein in register with the fuse plug receptacles 19 on the base, to permit the insertion of the entering end of the fuse plug 16, but of less diameter than the head of a standard plug. Apertures 20 are also formed to permit the passage therethrough of the operating stem 21 of the switch. The switch handle 22, which is threaded down on the spindle 21, engages and serves to hold the cover in position with precision. An aperture 23 is also preferably formed through which the switch indicators 24 may be observed. Also adjacent the switch handle, and here shown on the opposite side thereof, is formed an elongated aperture 25 through which may be observed a strip of celluloid or paper slipped between the cover and the base and on which is printed or written the location of the circuit which this switch controls. One of the longitudinal edges of each cover plate may be shaped in any suitable manner to form a joint with the adjacent cover plate in assembled position. As here shown, one edgeis formed with a raised flange 26; In assembled position on the panel board, the flange 26 of one plate overlies the edge of the adjacent plate. To aid in positioning the cover on the base 10, we provide on its lower face studs27 (Fig. 2) which take 'into recesses 28 in the upper face of the Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

tion therefrom to the branch wire terminals N,

31 is made through the fuse plugs 32 i sorted in the receptacles 33 therefor on the base. A.

The cover, in the modified form here shown, comprises a metal plate 34 substanflange 86 of one cover forms a lap joint with the head 37 of the adjacent cover. Torinsulate the cover from any electrically live elements on the Chase, asheet of fiber 38 or the like is secured to the lower face of the plate, preferably by rivets 39. Since, in a fitting of this type, there is no' switch stem to pass through the plate and accurately position it on the base nor any switch handle fitting shown in Figs. 1 to 4. fhe plate is apertured in like manner as the plate there shown, but is provided with bosses 43 around the holes 4A for the switch stem. Space is also left between the insulation 45 and the plate 42 for the insertion of celluloid or paper strips46 which carry a legend showing the direction of the circuit controlled by the switch. As in the first mentioned constructiofi, the cover is located in position by the switch stems and is held on by 30..

-' out. i

the switch handles when the fuse plugs are VVhen'aseries of fittings of either type shown, or of other types to which the invention is applicable, are assembled upon a panel board, it is obvious that the several cover plates form a substantially continuous and unbroken shield which effectually protects the fittings from mechanical injury as .well' as preventing electrical contact with the conductors thereon Various modifications of detail of construction and shape will readily suggest themselves and we. do not meagre limit our invention to the precise constructions shown.

V7 e claim as our invention 1. For use on a panel board fitting of the type described, a metallic cover plate substantially coextensive in area with the fitting which it is designed to cover, a sheet of insulation lining said plate, said plate and lining being perforated in register to permit the passage of a switch stem therethrough, and the plate being slotted adjacent said switch stem aperture to form a sight aperture for a switch indicating legend carrier adapted to be inserted between said plate and lining at the slot, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture for electric fittings of the type described, an insulating cover plate comprising a sheet of metal, substantially coextensive in area with the fitting which it is designed to cover, a 1

sheet of insulation lining said plate, said plate and lining being perforated in register to permit the passage of fuses therethrough, together with registering apertures in the plate and lining between the opposite ends of the plate and the fuse apertures to permit the passage of switch actuating means therethrough, an aperture in the cover plate adjacent the switch stem and a legend strip insertible between said plate and lining to position beneath said aperture and on which the direction of the circuit controlled may be indicated.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS WILLIAM BYRNE.

ROBERT OHRISTOPIHJR LEHANE.

\ Witnesses ALEXINA L. P. BQROLLEY,

MARY C. MCDONOUGH. 

